Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman with 313 previous convictions won't face extra jail time for trying to stab garda
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 42‑year‑old Donna Hutch, who had 313 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to producing a syringe in the city on 15 May 2015. She was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on 18 June 2015. The Court of Appeal rejected the Director of Public Prosecutions' application to review the sentence, citing that it was "unduly lenient". Hutch's offence involved an attempt to stab Garda John O'Donovan with a syringe needle on Amiens Street. Garda O'Donovan saw her shouting, falling, and holding a syringe with blood on it; Hutch struck out with her right hand, but a member of the public intervened and Hutch dropped the syringe. She later swallowed the barrel of the syringe. Hutch claimed she was hallucinating after ingesting crystal methamphetamine and had no intention to harm anyone.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman with 313 previous convictions won't face extra jail time for trying to stab garda. Charges or matters: production of a syringe in the city on May 15, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 15, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 18, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-05-31 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: production of a syringe in the city on May 15, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on June 18, 2015. The Court of Appeal refused to review Hutch's sentence today following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Amiens Street
- Custom House
Topics
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